Patent GB-1359801-A (GB)
Title: Welding method and apparatus
IPC: B23K9/028
Filed: 1973-01-25
Abstract: 1359801 Welding by fusion UZINA DE AUTOCAMIDANE "STEAGUL ROSU" BRASOV 25 Jan 1973 [26 Jan 1972] 3890/73 Heading B3R An arc welding machine for welding on opposite sides of a plurality or workpieces, such as motor vehicle wheels, comprises a rectilinear set of workpiece supports 16 movable in a closed path about a line parallel to the line of the set successively through a station in which the workpieces are mounted on the supports, a first welding station in which all of the workpieces are simultaneously welded on one side, a second welding station in which all of the workpieces are simultaneously welded on the other side, and a workpiece discharging station. As shown, vehicle wheels 17 are welded inside and outside respectively at upper and lower welding stations. Six sets of four wheel supports 16 are mounted about an indexable horizontal axis drum A. 60 degree drum indexing is effected by an hydraulically braked pneumatic cylinder 6 via a rack 9, pinion 10, crank 5 and a connecting rod 4 the free end of which is engageable in notches a of an indexing disc 11 fast with the drum. The disc is stationed between rotational movements by a pneumatically controlled detent c. Respective forward and return movement connecting rod/indexing disc engagement and disengagement are effected by a segment 15 and a pneumatic cylinder 13. The supports 16 of each set are mounted on the drum via a common shaft 18 which is rotated to adjust the inclination of the supports with respect to the drum axis at each welding station. Normally the supports 16 are held radially of the drum by a drum-mounted detent 26 spring-biased into engagement with a notch b in the end of an arm 27 fast with the shaft 18. At each welding station, there is provided a shaft 28 having an arm 29 carrying a cam 35 and a pneumatically actuable fork 33. On alignment of the shafts 18, 28, the cam 35 disengages the detent 26 and the fork 33 is actuated to clutch the two shafts together. The shaft 28 may then be rotated, by a pneumatic cylinder 31, to adjust the inclination of the supports. The supports 16 of each set are rotatable about their axes by a single motor 20 via a common shaft (19, Fig. 6, not shown), inside and outside welding rotation being controlled by cam discs (21). The workpiece wheels are held on the supports by spring-holding, pneumatically-releasing jaws (22). Each welding station comprises four welding heads G supported on a beam 39 guided for movement into and out of welding position. The heads comprise electrode feeding rollers (40, Figs. 9, 10, not shown) driven by a single motor (41) via a common shaft (42). Each feed roller (40) can be rendered inoperative by remotely controlled withdrawal of a pressure roller (53) cooperating therewith. A conveyer belt H disposed below the drum receives the welded wheels as they fall on release from the supports at the lowermost position thereof. The welding machine is located in a known transfer line I. The wheels may be rotationally orientated by a device J. The transfer line comprises a support K which is pneumatically vertically movable to lower the wheels on to an uppermost set of supports, the wheels being maintained in a pressed together condition by cylinders 46 until held on the supports. Reserve welding heads G<SP>1</SP> may be used, with the drum rotation reversed, when the heads G require maintenance. In an alternative embodiment (Fig. 4, not shown), the wheels are manually fed on the side of the drum opposite the welding stations, the latter being provided on one side only. The wheels arrive at the machine held, by a pawl (49), on a device (47) suspended from a runway (48). In a further alternative embodiment (Fig. 5, not shown), the wheels are transferred to the machine on a conveyer (50) and pneumatically pushed on to supports at the top of the drum via a roller way (51).